Abraham Cowley Quotes, born in 1618 in London, England, and passing on July 28, 1667, in Chertsey, was a leading English poet of the 17th century, admired for his metaphysical poetry, Pindaric odes, and essays. A child prodigy, he published Poetical Blossoms at 15 and later wrote works like The Mistress (1647), Davideis (1656), and The Poems of Abraham Cowley. Educated at Westminster School and Cambridge, he served as a Royalist cipher secretary during the English Civil War, later retiring to study horticulture. His poetry, blending wit, emotion, and elaborate imagery, influenced the transition from metaphysical to Augustan styles.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his poems, essays, interviews, and posts on X—reflect his insights on love, hope, nature, and life’s fleeting beauty, capturing his lyrical genius and timeless wisdom.
15 Abraham Cowley Quotes
- “A mighty pain to love it is, And ’t is a pain that pain to miss; But of all pains, the greatest pain It is to love, but love in vain.” (The Poems of Abraham Cowley, 1656)
- “Hope, of all ills that men endure, The only cheap and universal cure.” (The Mistress, 1647)
- “May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, And many books, both true.” (The Poems of Abraham Cowley, 1656)
- “Life is an incurable disease.” (To Dr. Scarborough, 1656)
- “Friendship is nothing but a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” (Bookey, 2023)
- “Curiosity does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make.” (The Poems of Abraham Cowley, 1656)
- “God the first garden made, and the first city Cain.” (The Garden, 1666)
- “The liberty of a people consists in being governed by laws which they have made themselves.” (Essays, Plays and Sundry Verses, 1668)
- “Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now, does always last.” (The Poems of Abraham Cowley, 1656)
- “’Tis nobler much for me, that I by her beauty, not her anger, die.” (Concealment, 1656)
- “The thirsty earth soaks up the rain, And drinks and gapes for drink again.” (Drinking, 1656)
- “What shall I do to be forever known, And make the Age to come my own?” (The Motto, 1656)
- “Solitude can be used well by very few people. They who do must have a knowledge of the world to see the foolishness of it, and enough virtue to despise all the vanity.” (The Poems of Abraham Cowley, 1656)
- “We are no other than a moving row of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go round with the sun-illumined Lantern held in Midnight by the Master of the Show.” (Bookey, 2023)
- “Build yourself a book-nest to forget the world without.” (Essays, Plays and Sundry Verses, 1668)
Abraham Cowley’s quotes are a dazzling mix of poetic flair, deep emotion, and timeless wisdom, inspiring poets, dreamers, and seekers to embrace love, hope, and the beauty of life’s fleeting moments. His words, woven with wit and wonder, continue to resonate across centuries. Which one stirs your soul or sparks your creativity? Drop it in the comments and keep Cowley’s poetic legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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